NATO G M S A L WEAPONS PROJECTS for Gender... · Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control...

NATO GUIDELINES FOR GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN SMALL ARMS & LIGHT WEAPONS PROJECTS

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CONTENTS

Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... 5

Reference documents ...................................................................................................... 6

Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 9

i. General ............................................................................................................ 9

ii. SALW in NATO................................................................................................ 10

iii. Purpose of the guidelines .............................................................................. 11

Target Audience and scope of guidelines ................................................................... 12

1. Guiding principles ................................................................................................... 13

2. Femininity and Masculinity in SALW ................................................................... 15

General .......................................................................................................... 15

Social Attributes ............................................................................................. 15

Ownership...................................................................................................... 16

3. SALW Control ......................................................................................................... 18

3.1 General .......................................................................................................... 18

3.2 Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) ................................................................. 18

3.3 Policy-level and Operational activities ........................................................... 20

Weapons collection ........................................................................................................... 20

Objectives of the activity ................................................................................................... 21

Activity-specific considerations for gender mainstreaming .............................................. 21

Design and guidance ......................................................................................................... 22

Checklist ............................................................................................................................ 24

Management & Leadership ............................................................................................... 24

Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) .................................................. 26

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Checklist ............................................................................................................................ 31


Destruction of weapons and ammunition ......................................................................... 33




Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM)....................................................... 34




Checklist ............................................................................................................................ 36


Weapons identification, marking, registering, and tracing ............................................... 37



Arms flows monitoring, and illicit trade prevention ......................................................... 38




Checklist ............................................................................................................................ 39

Security Sector Reform (SSR) ............................................................................................. 40

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Objectives of the Activity .................................................................................................. 40


Checklist ............................................................................................................................ 41

4 Concluding Remarks ............................................................................................. 42

Glossary ........................................................................................................................... 43

Additional Reading Material .......................................................................................... 50

Resource Documents for Designing and Establishing Surveys .............................. 52

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ABBREVIATIONS

ACDC Arms Control, Disarmament and Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation Centre (NATO)

CSO Civil Society Organization

DDR Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration

EAPC Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (NATO)

IDDRS Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Standards

IDP Internally Displaced Person

IMAS International Mine Action Standards

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

MOSAIC Modular Small-arms-control Implementation

Compendium (MOSAIC)

NGO Non-governmental Organization

OSCE Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

PASP Political Affairs and Security Policy Division (NATO)

PCM Project Cycle Management

PSSM Physical Security and Stockpile Management

SALW Small Arms and Light Weapons

SEESAC South Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons

SSR Security Sector Reform

UN United Nations

UN CASA United Nations Coordinating Action on Small Arms

UNECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

UNODA United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

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UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

UNSCR United Nations Security Council Resolution

WHO World Health Organization

WPS Women, Peace and Security

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

The present guidelines are based on the following reference

documents:

1. NATO, Military Guidelines on Prevention of, and Response to,

Conflict-Related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (CR-

SGBV), 2015.

2. NATO Women, Peace and Security, Action Plan for the

Implementation of the NATO/EAPC Policy on Women, Peace

and Security, June 2018.

3. NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation, Bi-Strategic

Command Directive 040-001 (Public Version) Integrating

UNSCR 1325 and Gender Perspective into the NATO Command

Structure, 17 October 2017

4. United Nations Security Council, Small Arms and Light

Weapons report of the Secretary-General, (6 December 2017),

S/2017/1025

5. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, Women and

peace and security, (31 October 2000), available from

undocs.org/S/RES/1325

6. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1820, Use of sexual

violence as a tool of war, (19 June 2008), available from


7. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1888, Protection of

women, girls from sexual violence in armed conflict, (30

September 2009), available from undocs.org/S/RES/1888.

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8. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1889, Strengthening

the participation of women at all stages of peace processes, (5

October 2009), available from undocs.org/S/RES/1889.

9. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2220, Small arms

and light weapons, (22 May 2015), available from


10. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2242, Improve

Implementation of Landmark Text on Women, Peace, Security

Agenda, (13 October 2015), available from


11. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2117, Small Arms

and Light Weapons, (26 September 2013), available from


12. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2467, Conflict-

Related Sexual Violence, (29 April 2019), available from


13. General Assembly Resolution 69/61, Women, disarmament,

non-proliferation and arms control, (2 December 2014),

available from undocs.org/A/RES/69/61

14. General Assembly Resolution 71/56, Women, disarmament,

non-proliferation and arms control, (5 December 2016) available

from undocs.org/A/RES/71/56.

15. UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the

Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,

July 2001

16. UN Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration

Standards, Operational Guide, OG 5.10, Women, Gender and

DDR, 2014

17. UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, Modular Small-arms-control

Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC) Module 06.20.

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Children, adolescents, youth and small arms and light weapons,

25 April 2018


Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC), Module 05.10.

Conducting small arms and light weapons surveys, 27 August

2012



National coordinating mechanisms on small arms and light

weapons control, 17 June 2014.



Women, gender and small arms and light weapons, 2017.

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INTRODUCTION

i. GENERAL

People can be exposed to Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)

at any age as victims, witnesses, or perpetrators at all stages of the

conflict cycle. The victims can be both combatants and civilians.

Studies have shown that armed conflict has different effects on men

and women, as they often have differing roles within societies both

during conflict and in a post-conflict environment. The majority of

victims of small arms violence, either in conflict, post-conflict or non-

conflict environments are young men. Men are also the main

perpetrators of gender-based violence, which can be perpetuated

with a gun, for example in a domestic context. Countering this

requires targeted actions towards both men and women, and calls

for women to participate at relevant decision-making tables.

However, in the domains of decision-making on international,

national or local security, politics, diplomacy, municipal councils,

committees of elders and more, male voices have dominated the

discussions. Including women at the decision-making- and policy

level, SALW regulations become more gender-sensitive and

effective.

NATO underlines the importance of mainstreaming gender

perspectives in its full spectrum of activities, as established in its

NATO/EAPC Policy on Women, Peace and Security. In this spirit,

NATO strives to provide clear and comprehensive advice and

guidance to practitioners, policymakers and other actors on the

integration of gender perspectives when dealing with SALW issues.

The present guidelines follow the recommendations provided by UN

resolutions and guidance on Women, Peace and Security. They are

built on guidance provided in the Modular Small-arms-control

Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC) developed by the United

Nations.

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i i . SALW IN NATO

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control measures aim at

preventing illicit transfers and use of SALW, as a contribution to

security, peace and stability. SALW activities are not about the

prohibition of legal arms ownership but about contributing to national

security through adequate small-arms regulations in challenging

environments. As such, SALW control measures are components of

a holistic approach to conflict prevention, conflict management and

post conflict recovery.

NATO’s initiatives in the area of SALW are an integral part to NATO’s

capacity building in arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation

efforts, and NATO is committed to helping Partners project stability

through defense-capacity building. Controlling illicit flows of SALW is

an important component of defense-capacity building, where

including gender-sensitive policies is crucial for long-term

institutional capacity build-up.

In order to be effective, SALW control measures have to be

integrated into a comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach. In

that respect, such measures have to be carefully coordinated inter

alia with Security Sector Reform (SSR) projects, Disarmament,

Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) projects, border

management initiatives, stabilization operations, counter-terrorism

and –crime-prevention strategies, economic and social

development, and good governance initiatives.

NATO also places importance on increasing awareness of the link

between gender and SALW control, and is actively encouraging

dialogue and cooperation among Allies and Partners to bring about

tangible and effective gender-mainstreaming practices within SALW

control. To date, NATO has two platforms to support the inclusion of

gender considerations within SALW, both on policy level and for

practical implementation. These are; the Ad Hoc Working Group on

SALW and Mine Action (AHWG SALW/MA), where Allies and

Partners gather to bring about efforts that contribute to ongoing

international work in reducing the impact of anti-personnel landmines

and the threat caused by the illicit flow of SALW; and the NATO Trust

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Fund mechanism, that assists NATO Partners in meeting the

obligations under the Ottawa Convention, provides support for the

disposal of conventional ammunition and small arms, defense reform

and training, etc. Additionally, NATO supports the inclusion of gender

considerations in the framework of international instruments, such as

the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and

Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All Its Aspects (PoA).

From a policy-level point of view, addressing the trafficking of SALW

must also be incorporated and seen as a part of effective life cycle

management in order to strive towards a complete and sustainable

project.

i i i . PURPOSE OF THE GUIDEL INES

In order to achieve long-lasting effects, gender mainstreaming in

SALW control must be taken into consideration at all stages of SALW

control project management, as it contributes to ensuring that the

differing perspectives and experiences of women and men are taken

into consideration at all stages of NATO’s SALW program

management ( i.e.,programming, identification,

formulation/appraisal, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and

evaluation). Gender mainstreaming and equal opportunity for men

and women to participate in decision-making on issues related to

SALW ensures innovative and effective solutions to complex

problems. In order to be sustainable, all work within the field of SALW

must be holistic and address not only legal and technical matters, but

also cultural, societal, and functional drivers to illicit SALW trade and

ownership, within a comprehensive and inclusive approach. Gender-

transformative approaches, in which gender is central to promoting

gender equality and achieving positive development and security

outcomes, can assist in addressing those underlying factors.

Considering both men and women perspectives through gender

mainstreaming is key to achieve a better and more comprehensive

understanding of the different factors influencing security, in

particular in low intensity conflicts, and thus providing better targeted

and more effective responses.

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Therefore, the purpose of these guidelines is to give a better

understanding of the implementation and use of gender

mainstreaming in all aspects of SALW control, for a more holistic and

sustainable approach in NATO operations and projects.

TARGET AUDIENCE AND SCOPE OF GUIDELINES

These guidelines are not binding and have only advisory value. They

are intended to be used by policy developers, project managers, and

practitioners of NATO Allies and Partner countries working in the field

of SALW control. They may be used by other national or international

actors and stakeholders as well.

These guidelines should assist in how to gender-mainstream in

SALW control for more effective SALW policies and activities, and

consequently enhanced overall security and security operations. The

provisions contained in these guidelines should be integrated in the

design and programming of SALW-related projects and operations.

In doing so, SALW projects will better address the security needs of

men, women, boys and girls.

These guidelines are designed in line with existing international

guidance and making use of these guidelines warrants that

international best practices find their way into the activity.

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1. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Local ownership of SALW-related activities is crucial for

achieving local ‘buy-in,’ especially for projects related to

collection and destruction of weapons.

A ‘local buy-in’ can be promoted through the involvement of all

relevant stakeholders, including women, during all stages of the

project cycle management;

Commitment to the full and equal participation of women at all

levels, including at leadership level’s participation;

Conducting gender analysis for policy development is an

important success factor, and should be done before the start of

the project. Some projects (e.g., ammunition destruction) may be

less gender-sensitive than others (e.g., SALW collection and

destruction);

Gathering and using comprehensive, quantitative, and

trustworthy sex- and age-disaggregated data is necessary to

design, implement, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of

SALW control;

If such data is unobtainable, best practices and lessons

learned in similar cultural and societal contexts should be

used to avoid basing activities on gender stereotypes and wrong

assumptions;

Avoid the creation of c

onflict situations that could harm or victimize civilians (“do no

harm” principle);

Government officials, service providers, contractors, and other

relevant stakeholders working within SALW control should be

provided with training on gender equality and gender

analysis.

Exemplary and unequivocal ethical behavior should be the

utmost guiding principle in managing projects.

Women shall not only be seen as victims, they can also be

perpetrators, but also actors of change. Gender

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mainstreaming should therefore focus on promoting women’s

active and equal involvement in small arms control.

Continuously aim to complement national, regional and

international efforts towards gender mainstreaming in SALW.

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2. FEMININITY AND MASCULINITY IN SALW

GENERAL

Men are the main perpetrators of SALW crimes, and most small arms

are in the hands of men. Men also constitute a large majority as

victims of the direct harm caused by SALW. Women on the other

hand often suffer from the indirect consequences, such as added

economic burden, lack of access to health care and infrastructure,

and more. This is the case particularly in a post-conflict context,

during conflict, in situations of urban violence and in terms of

domestic and conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence.

However, women also participate in conflict as combatants, obtain

small arms to protect themselves, or become involved otherwise or

are forced into violence or misuse of weapons during conflict.

Moreover, it is important to understand the consequences of armed

violence in conflict areas, and how differing attitudes of women, men,

boys and girls towards arms affect their lives. Policy developments

have often been constructed through male perspectives as men

have mainly occupied policy making positions, and have thus

focused on the needs of men, rather than taking into account the

needs of everybody, including those of women, boys and girls. It is

essential to pay the necessary attention to gender when designing

projects or operations. This needs to be addressed in the drafting of

policies and initial project planning, to ensure that the needs of all

individuals are considered and incorporated.

SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES

Historically, societies have formed certain roles and expectations of

men and women in accordance with the socially constructed

phenomenon of masculinity and femininity. These ideas are

developed in interaction with other sections of society, such as

religion, ethnicity and economic status.

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These notions have also been articulated in the power dynamics

between men and women, and other minority groups. For example,

the cultural perception of masculinity may in certain cultures promote

ownership of weapons. Both men and women can contribute to

maintaining these ideologies, such as by encouraging ideas of toxic

masculinity, for example, encouraging men to take up arms or

shaming them for not participating in conflict.

It is essential to pay close attention to these interplays within socially

constructed gender roles to be able to develop adequate projects, as

small arms and light weapons can both affect men and women

differently, and can also be perceived differently, depending on a

person’s gender, social grouping, and other factors.

OW NERSHIP

Professions and activities in which weapons are used (military, law

enforcement, sport shooting and hunting, and more) tend to be

dominated by men. Although most SALW are in the hands of men,

only a small proportion of men commit the majority of small arms

violence. These are generally young (15-29 years of age),

marginalized men, and their actions can turn into a vicious cycle as

the very act of violence can increase their marginalization. The

ownership (and usage) of small arms as weapons, may create a

feeling of empowerment (social, economic, or both), which they have

otherwise been excluded from. In these instances, SALW can

represent a symbol of power for young men, which they perceive as

a way to help them gain access to the culturally defined masculine

roles in their societies, which they feel entitled to, but have been

deprived of due to marginalization.1

1 See: South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and

Light Weapons (SEESAC), Gender and SALW in South East Europe, Main Concerns and

Policy Response, 2016, p. 31

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Men are not the sole combatants in conflict. Women’s participation

in conflict is becoming more frequent, such as joining non-state

actors or armed groups. They sometimes are combatants or can

fulfill supporting roles such as spies, paramedics and teachers. It

should be clearly distinguished between those women who are

voluntarily joining such groups and those who are forcibly recruited

by non-state actors or gangs. Forcibly recruited women are

particularly vulnerable to conflict-related sexual and gender-based

violence.

When designing projects, it is important to actively be aware of

socially constructed ideas of gender roles and promote an objective

understanding of what it means to be a man or a woman in a specific

context. That way, we may be able to counter toxic ideas of

masculine and feminine identities, which in return may promote a

more successful project.

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3. SALW CONTROL

3.1 General

Including gender perspectives into SALW control activity planning,

policy development, design, and organization in specific areas,

requires background research, gender analysis and adequate

preparation.

It is important to review all available data on the use and misuse of

SALW, and on forms of violence likely to be linked to SALW. It may

be helpful to identify potential and appropriate local, regional or

international organizations or institutions in the area that can support

data collection, awareness, advocacy, and training activities, and to

ensure that the inputs and experiences of women (including refugees

and internally displaced people) are taken into account.

3.2 MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E)

The purpose of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is to ensure the

proper management of projects and the seamless and effective

integration of gender perspectives into all operational activities in the

project. Key aspects to consider in order to ensure effective

monitoring and evaluation process in regards to gender sensitive

SALW control activities include:

Availability of sufficient organizational, structural, financial and

personnel resources for monitoring and evaluation activities

Ensure that personnel involved in the monitoring and evaluation

process have received proper gender awareness training, are

aware of the projects’ gender-related objectives, and are

comprised of equal gender representation

Availability of sex- and age- disaggregated data to provide a

holistic analysis and approach to the project

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Clearly-defined gender-related objectives, with associated

indicators and benchmarks

Monitoring and evaluation data should contribute to the

identification of good practices focusing on improvement and

enhancement of future programs and identifying lessons learned

Ensure communication of the results of the monitoring and

evaluation process to all stakeholders involved in the process,

and ensure their feedback is taken into account

Monitoring teams may include members of the civil society (to

perform as independent experts or in public consultations) and

should be comprised of mixed gender representation

SALW-related monitoring and evaluation efforts should cover

activities of men and women in all phases of the project (analysis,

design, drafting, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and

evaluation)

All practitioners working on the project must be aware of the

rationale and objectives for gender mainstreaming, as well as of

the importance of sex and age disaggregated data, monitoring

and evaluation, gained through specialized training

In projects dealing with local populations (e.g., weapons

collection) civil society (e.g., women’s associations, youth

groups, and NGOs), should be invited to participate actively in

the assessment, design, review, and, monitoring and evaluation.

Example: Shelter camps for internally displaced persons in

Pakistan were constructed without prior community

consultations. A gender mixed M&E team from UNICEF noticed

that women and girls had restricted access to services in the

camps and were confined to their tents, as the majority of people

came from Purdah communities where women and men should

not mix outside of the family. After consultations with male and

female members of the community (separately and together), it

was agreed to construct a space for women where they could

walk around freely with access to basic services. The fact that

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the M&E team was gender mixed was crucial for the

consultations.

3.3 POLICY-LEVEL AND OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

It is important that gender mainstreaming is incorporated in every

level of the decision-making process of a project, on both policy- and

operational-level. Key elements to ensure that SALW control

interventions are gender-sensitive should include:

Seek to have a mixed team of women and men as experts for all

policy decisions and ensure that women’s voices are equally

reflected in all policy developments

Encourage gender parity within defense institutions. Advocating

for equal gender representation at all levels in such institutions is

of essence

Addressing the different needs of women, men, boys and girls

Identifying activities to increase the participation of men and

women in planned interventions

Identifying specific indicators to monitor gender-related

objectives and their impact on operational activities

Encouraging commitment to gender equality of partners,

women’s organizations and other organizations working on the

project

WEAPONS COLLECTION

Weapons collection aims at reducing the number of illicit weapons

circulating in a given country or area. It may be related to a

Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration program (DDR),

Security Sector Reform program (SSR), or other security operations.

It should ideally involve the active participation of the population.

Depending on the socio-political context, such projects may be

jeopardized by a lack of popular support. Therefore, public

information and awareness about the project is a key success factor.

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OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTIVITY

Objectives for collecting weapons may be:

To reduce the number of illegal weapons in circulation among the

population

To disarm factions in order to restore state authority and allow

state- and nation-building in post-conflict society

To reduce the number of weapons that factions are allowed to

keep

ACTIVITY-SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR GENDER MAINS TREAMING

Civilians should be encouraged to play a significant role in convincing

their peers, family members, relatives and others, to disarm or

surrender excess or illicit weapons. The burden therefore falls on all

stakeholders to play a crucial role in the implementation process of

weapons collection projects and programs. In certain situations,

women may be a valuable source of information on the location of

weapons and ammunition and also as a voice in their own family.

Therefore, local women should be included in consultations when

planning for the collection of SALW.

Consider that informants can be endangered and/or subject to

retaliatory measures if contributing to disarmament projects. It is

therefore essential to include precautionary measures in the

planning phases, including adequate communication with the

population

The opinions, roles and needs of all local stakeholders should be

considered in the initial planning phases of a weapons collection

project, reflecting the principle of ‘do no harm’

Any strategy for information and awareness-raising campaigns

on weapons collection should be established in cooperation with

local stakeholders and Chief Security Officers (CSOs), to identify

the right targets, including society at large

Consider including CSOs, women’s groups and other relevant

organizations for:

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Running awareness campaigns for voluntary weapons

surrender programs, focusing on women, youth and the

mobilization of other groups of civil society

Participating in weapons collection projects as mediators or

facilitators between communities and state security officials

Providing public information on weapons amnesties, and on

incentives for surrendering weapons and raising awareness to

encourage the collection campaign

Strengthening confidence in weapons destruction by raising

awareness of benefits and by participating in and monitoring

public destruction events

DESIGN AND GUIDANCE

When designing a weapons collection project, it is important to take

into consideration that guns can be and often are closely tied to a

person’s identity, societal expectations and a particular culture.

Armed violence should be addressed from a perspective that

recognizes the role and experiences of both men and women in all

stages of life.

It must also be taken into account that women can be involved in

armed violence as a way to express their rights, identity, and

independence, such as in a male-dominated context. When

designing a weapons collection program, this aspect must also be

taken into consideration, in particular when identifying alternative

solutions for the affirmation or guaranteed security for women.

SALW-related projects should always encourage gender equality

and promote positive, non-violent forms of behavior. Such projects

should be integrated into comprehensive approaches which may

include education of children, youth and other target groups, and

should be supported by policies for employment and economic

development.

The design of SALW collection projects should be based on:

• The prevalence of conflict-related sexual and gender-based

violence in the area

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• A gender-analysis on the impact of SALW on individuals of all

age and different groups

• A clear understanding of the actual societal attitudes towards

small arms ownership (weapon ownership may have a vital function,

e.g., to protect against criminal activity or may be used as a tool to

exercise power and control in the community, within the family and

over women)

• An assessment of the risk of disarming specific groups and

the impact on the local balance of power, and possible

consequences for civilian populations

• A clear understanding of the patterns of violence based on

sex- and age-disaggregated data

• An assessment of the protection needs of the members of the

community and of its institutional response

• An identification of the possible roles – and added value – of

men and women in the various functions related to arms collection

• An assessment of potential roles for local women’s

organizations and other relevant organizations, in peace-building

education and non-violent conflict resolution, as well as in raising

awareness for SALW-related issues

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CHECKLIST

Assess the risk for the project to generate tensions in the local

communities (such as rape and conflict-related sexual and

gender based violence of individuals) and possible

confrontational situation

Identify the different needs of all stakeholders in cooperation with

local organizations. Children and youth can also have the

capacity to influence their peers and parents and therefore can

also become effective agents of change in their societies

Actively seek to engage with women in peace-building and

violence prevention(AU)

Include all stakeholders in all phases of the conflict management

cycle to reduce violence and its impact. However, the most

effective impact of civil society involvement and gender

mainstreaming may be in the pre- and post-conflict phases

Identify the role of each stakeholder in peacebuilding, including

both men and women. Recognize and understand the role of the

stakeholders as peacebuilders and embed them into conflict

prevention and peacebuilding strategies

Integrate SALW control projects into broader peacebuilding

efforts, poverty reduction strategies and human security

frameworks

Ensure a gender balanced representation of all stakeholders in

the teams responsible for the assessment, drafting,

implementation, monitoring and evaluating of SALW control

efforts

MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP

The management of SALW collection projects and programs should

always include women, their perspectives, and assess the need for

diverse staff in key positions. SALW programs do not always aim

specifically at reducing violence against women, but when gender-

based violence is a key issue, and determines the objectives of a

project, it is advisable to have a significant participation of women in

its management and leadership. Factors to consider include:

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Guidance on coordinating mechanisms on SALW control should

promote women’s leadership and include female participants as

well as the unit responsible for women’s affairs and recruitment

Ensure the equal and meaningful participation of women in

decision-making, as well as the active involvement of female

representatives of civil society

Engage women in decision-making on budgets and resource

mobilization

Encourage that resources and budgets have allocated resources

for undertaking gender-specific actions

Ensure that all individuals are able to freely express their views

and perspectives by using public dialogue, consultations,

discussions, polls, and surveys

Develop women’s capacity-building activities focused on

strengthening their ability to engage into SALW-related issues

Ensure that existing staff has necessary gender perspectives and

expertise

Strengthen policies, projects, and programs to ensure

responsiveness and accountability on gender issues

Interact with international and regional organizations and CSOs

working on gender issues to identify and exploit synergies, while

avoiding duplication of work

Example: The NATO-led Stabilization Forces (SFOR), and later

EUFOR, started carrying out Harvest Operations in Bosnia

Herzegovina in 2000. These operations included weapons

collection media campaigns to encourage people to collect and

hand in illegal weapons in the area. However, the media

campaigns were mostly designed to target men, and many did

not want to hand in their weapons as they commonly viewed

weapons as a means of protection for their family. The

campaigns were later improved and designed to also target

women, informing them about the risks of illegal weapons in the

home, particularly towards children. This resulted in much more

illegal weapons being collected and destroyed.

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D ISARMAMENT , DEMOBILIZATION AND Reintegration (DDR)

Effective DDR requires a multidimensional approach that may

include not only defense and security sector reform, but also

economic and educational structures allowing reintegration of former

combatants. In this context, NATO only has limited capabilities to

address the full spectrum of DDR and must rely on partnerships with

other international organizations or nations. However, understanding

the complex interactions between society and security requires

gender analysis.

DDR programs are usually conducted in post-conflict situations.

However, some aspects of DDR programs, such as disarmament of

individuals, may be implemented in security operations. Although

they may not have the same social impact, these operations must be

designed with a gender perspective in order to maximize

sustainability.


The ultimate goal of DDR is to promote stability and security in post-

conflict situations and include the following main enabling objectives:

To reduce the amount of illegal weapons in circulation amongst

the population in order to allow all actors to focus on

reconstruction activities

To disarm factions in order to restore state authority and allow

state- and nation-building in a post-conflict society

To reduce the number of weapons that factions are allowed to

keep

To contribute to right-sizing armed forces in order to provide

more resources to state- and nation-building activities


As to gender-related issues, modern DDR projects should be able to

address three main categories of individuals:

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Female and male members of armed groups or armed forces

who joined freely

Female and male members of armed groups or armed forces

who were forced to join or were detained or used for logistical

purposes. Their role is often difficult to assess, but they should

be taken into account when establishing a DDR program; and

Dependents of members of armed groups or armed forces

In order to address DDR projects, it is imperative to have a thorough

understanding of the societal and social context in which the DDR

process unfolds.

An inclusive approach to DDR projects design should include women

and other relevant groups. Experiences of those who assisted in

peace-building in the conflict period or who served in an armed group

or force, and learning skills that can be transformed into community

service in the reconstruction period. Their experiences may help

local populations with reintegrating former fighters, bring

reconciliation, and assist in making communities safer.

DESIGN AND GUIDANCE

The design of DDR projects should take the following aspects into

consideration:

Providing and ensuring equal access to reintegration programs

for individuals involved in the conflict (e.g., ex-combatants,

women and girls working in support functions for armed groups

and forces, wives and dependents of male ex-combatants, and

members of the receiving community) to understand, assist, and

strengthen the DDR process

Gender aspects should be considered in the negotiation phase.

Mediation and facilitation teams should be advised on specific

gender dynamics, relations in and around armed groups and

forces, and the impact of any peace agreement. In order to do

so, facilitators of meetings and gender advisers should organize

gender workshops and conduct a gender analysis before the

start of the negotiations

28

In the assessment and design phase of any project or program,

staff involved in planning should assist in establishing solid

understanding of the legal, political, economic, social, and

security context of the DDR program and how it affects people in

the armed forces or groups, and in the receiving societies.

Moreover, planners should understand the different needs of

women, men, girls, and boys who participate in DDR processes

according to their roles during the conflict (for example, armed

ex-combatants, supporters, or dependents)

Vulnerabilities of the target population must be identified on the

basis of certain criteria, among which:

Number of dependents (including elders)

Household’s source of income

Capital: (land)2, livestock, house

Ethnicity

Disabilities and health condition

In cooperation with appropriate regional, bilateral, and

multilateral organizations, DDR practitioners should encourage

gender mainstreaming and compliance with UNSCR 1325 (2000)

and its follow-on resolutions, in particular UNSCR 2242 (2025),

throughout all DDR efforts that they lead or support, encouraging

all relevant actors, partners, receiving countries, donors, and

other stakeholders to dedicate human and economic resources

towards gender mainstreaming during all phases of the DDR

process

DDR practitioners should ensure that gender advisers are

involved in early stages of any project

Provide transitional support in the form of ensuring equal access

to the basic education and training to deal with the needs of

women and girls that should start as soon as possible during the

disarmament or demobilization phase

2 Note: In certain countries, land cannot be owned.

29

Male and female ex-combatants should have equal access to

clear information on their eligibility for participation in DDR

programs, as well as the benefits available and how to obtain

them. In the meantime, public information and awareness-raising

sessions should be offered to the communities that will receive

ex-combatants, especially women’s groups, to help them

understand what DDR is, and what they can and cannot expect

to gain from it. It is of utmost importance that information on the

DDR process (e.g., eligibility and benefits) reaches women and

girls associated with armed groups or forces, as some

commanders might try to exclude them

In the design of the DDR process there is a need to consider

protection of women and children at cantonment sites during the

demobilization phase. The needs of women and children as well

and the safety of women and children in cantonment sites should

be a priority. Working with organizations, such as, UNICEF, to

ensure children’s needs are prioritized

During the disarmament phase, weapons possession has usually

been a condition for eligibility in DDR programs. Previously,

commanders removed weapons from the possession of women

and girls before assembly, and/or women and children have

performed no fighting roles, which often lead to the exclusion of

women and girls from DDR processes. Therefore, women’s

equal access to secure disarmament sites is critical to ensure

that gender stereotypes of male and female weapons ownership

are not perpetuated. Ongoing programs to disarm, through

weapons collections, weapons amnesties, new gun control laws

supporting the registration of legally owned weapons, programs

of action (e.g., weapons in exchange for development), and other

initiatives should be put in place to support reintegration and

development processes. Men are, by tradition, associated with

the use, ownership, and promotion of small arms, and are

wounded or killed in direct combat more than women are.

Nevertheless, the difference between female and male gun

ownership does not mean that women have no guns and may not

pose threats to security

30

In weapons collection sites, attention should be paid to the

identification of female ex-combatants who return their weapons

and female community members who hand over weapons on

behalf of ex-combatants. Female ex-combatants can equally

assist with information about the number, location, and situation

of hidden weapons, provided there are adequate security

measures to protect the identity of the person giving the

information

Existing efforts of relevant NGOs and female community leaders

to raise awareness of weapons spread and misuse should be

identified and recognized when planning long-term disarmament

processes

Women’s knowledge of trading routes, weapons reserves and

collections, and other SALW-related information should be

obtained, where this can be done safely, during the field

assessment phase, and this information should be used in

disarmament planning

Surveys should be carried out to determine the attitudes of

women and girls (both those who participated in conflicts and

community members) to SALW

Encourage educating and including women in disarmament

activities to strengthen women’s profile and leadership. Consider

linking women’s knowledge and awareness of disarmament to

the promotion of their broader political participation and

involvement in community development

Collected weapons should be properly guarded with an aim

towards final disposition. The equal involvement of women’s

groups in monitoring weapons collection and destruction, and as

participants in their destruction, can be a way of bringing together

community support for and investment in the peace process

During the resettlement phase, after demobilization,

mechanisms should be put in place to allow female ex-

combatants and supporters to return to their destination of choice

using safe means of transport minimizing exposure to conflict-

related sexual and gender-based violence, re-recruitment, and

31

kidnapping or human trafficking. Both male and female ex-

combatants and supporters should be fully informed about, and

able to access, any reintegration support services (e.g., a local

demobilization support office, if one exists). When it comes to

social reintegration, support the preparation of the community to

receive ex-combatants by carrying out broad consultations with

a wide variety of actors and community awareness-raising

meetings

Provide support, where possible, with economic reintegration by

ensuring access to the trainings and information sessions

CHECKLIST

Carry out gender-sensitive assessments for all stakeholders,

including female ex-combatants, supporters and dependents

Consider the following information required to assess the

situation for the project design:

Occupation

Source of income

Military Rank (or equivalent)

Years of service

Age

Gender of dependents in household

Ethnicity

Health condition (including disabilities)

Level of education

Professional experience

Type of intended activity after demobilization

Type of support needed

Assist in developing a framework of capacities and vulnerabilities

to plan and measure the outcome of gender-responsive DDR

programs. This framework should map the strengths and

weaknesses of the target population based on collective

interviews and focus groups with women’s NGOs, community

leaders, female ex-combatants, and supporters

32

Ensure gender-responsive program design. The formulation of

any project or program should reflect the results of needs

assessments of ex-combatants and those associated with armed

forces and groups

Advocate for a gender-responsive budget to ensure that female-

specific interventions are sufficiently funded

Assist in the creation of a framework for gender-responsive

monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to find out if DDR programs are

meeting the needs of all stakeholders, including women and girls,

and to examine the gendered impact of DDR

Identify a set of specific indicators that measure the gender

dimensions of DDR programs and their impacts with an aim for

more comprehensive and practical recommendations for future

programs

Ensure that data is disaggregated not only by sex (to compare

men and women), but also by age, different role(s) during the

conflict, location (rural or urban), and ethnic background


It is important to understand that DDR programs should not affect

men only. Women, elderly and children may be affected by the

disarmament and demobilization process. DDR programs can only

be sustainable if designed and managed taking into account the

social and societal environment of the demobilized individuals and

their community members.

Example: Gender stereotypes may promote harmful assumptions

that can sabotage the project. In Liberia, 2004-2005, women were

not ready to welcome back child soldiers into the community after the

war, contrary to what had been assumed. Reintegrating the

combatants too early would thus have created a security risk for the

children, which shows the importance of proper gender analysis

before conducting DDR projects.

33

DESTRUCTION OF W EAPONS AND AMMUNITION


The destruction of weapons and ammunition serves various

objectives:

The elimination of material that could be misused for criminal or

subversive purposes

The elimination of surplus, excess or obsolete material, whose

storage and maintenance would be expensive and dangerous for

military and civilian populations

The implementation of “right-sizing” activities for security and

military organizations

The disbandment of armed groups in a post-conflict situation as

part of confidence- and nation-building initiatives

ACTIVITY-SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR GENDER MAINSTREAMING

The destruction of ammunition and weapons has only limited impact

on deeper societal issues, including gender-based violence.

However, in certain areas, arms destruction can be an economic

activity that can be used to promote women’s societal and social role

at local level, including:

Employment of women in the destruction facility as a source of

income for local populations, in particular for women who were

left without resources as a consequence of the conflict

Employment of former combatants, including disabled former

combatants

Employment of specifically trained women groups for monitoring

destruction activities

Awareness and transparency activities in areas where weapons

and ammunition destruction activities are conducted

34

DESIGN AND GUIDANCE

Destruction of arms and ammunition follows processes that have

been established and proven effective over time. However, the

involvement of local workers in this process may contribute to

achieve a local ownership for disarmament projects, and may have

a positive socio-economic impact at local level. For instance,

destruction projects may provide an opportunity for new jobs.

Consider the job opportunities provided by the project as a

mean to support governmental policies on gender

mainstreaming and women empowerment, especially when

projects involve skills that can be easily reused in the local

economy.

Keep in mind that destruction of weapons and ammunition

can lead to a chemical exposure which might have different

health impacts on men and women. These health implications

can then have different social and economic impacts on men

and women in the long-term.

PHYSICAL SECURITY AND STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT (PSSM)

Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) encompasses

all provisions for the necessary physical infrastructure and national

capacity allowing for securing and accounting for weapons and

ammunition under government control. This comprises the

construction and rehabilitation of weapons and ammunition storage

facilities in line with international standards, the design and

implementation of effective management and accountability

processes, as well as capability development for efficient and

effective management and monitoring.

35


The objectives of PSSM are numerous:

To keep weapons and ammunition out of reach of unauthorized

individuals, and to make them readily available to institutional

security and defense organizations

To ensure a safe and secure storage of ammunition that

minimizes the risk of damage and unintended explosion

To ensure a lifecycle management of ammunition and weapons

in order to guarantee their proper functioning and timely

availability

To prevent the risk of ammunition and weapons diversion


The wide range of activities involved in PSSM opens a wide door to

employment for men and women.

Besides its functional and operational aspects, PSSM also

contributes to the safety of neighboring populations by minimizing

risks for catastrophic explosions. However, in certain situations,

where populations live in the close vicinity of storage facilities,

cooperation with local authorities and civil society may contribute in

raising awareness and in educating the population on safety

measures and recommended behavior in case of emergency.

Gender analysis is needed to assess the different vulnerabilities of

women, men, boys and girls in this regard.

DESIGN AND GUIDANCE

When designing a PSSM project, especially when the storage facility

lies in the vicinity of inhabited areas, civilians can play a role in the

establishment of preventive and emergency measures for the

population. They provide a valuable interface between authorities,

project managers, and the local population for gender analysis and

locating vulnerable populations.

36

CHECKLIST

Keep women and men involved in the process of establishing

links with the local population and in the gendered risk

assessment for neighboring populations

Establish awareness programs to provide students with basic

behavioral rules in case of explosion and fire in schools (e.g.,

meeting points and evacuation plans)

Use education and physical measures (e.g., signs and posters)

to avoid children playing in the direct vicinity of the ammunition

storage facility, to minimize the risk of false alarm, and to avoid

confusion for the security personnel


Management of a storage facility

Activities related to safe stockpiling of ammunition and weapons

should be done in coordination with national authorities, in

particular the national commissions, in order to harmonize

training and awareness efforts

The wide range of activities involved in PSSM opens a wide door

to employment for men and women

PSSM activities also require raising awareness among

neighboring populations

Risk management measures should be considered at the early

stages of the project and include liaison with other national and

local entities

Example: Using gender analysis in the planning of the project is

important for choosing appropriate location for the stockpile facility.

When choosing a location, the well-being of the whole population and

then specific vulnerabilities should be evaluated. It is important to keep

in mind the possibility of an explosion, which might have different

impacts on men and women. Consider that women might be more

vulnerable to such an explosion since they are more frequently present

in certain locations than men, such as roads leading to water collection

sites or market places.

37

WEAPONS IDENTIFICATION , MARKING, REGISTERING , AND TRACING

Identification, marking, registering and tracing weapons serve a

variety of purposes:

Management of weapons and ammunition, including inventory

rotation and spare parts (re-)supply

Replacement of obsolete weapons, parts, and ammunition

Identification of users of arms and ammunition at any given time

Tracking parts or ammunition failures for the purpose of quality

control


The objectives of identification, marking, registering, and tracing

SALW are:

To improve safety and security of stockpiles and stored material

To facilitate life-cycle management of weapons and ammunition

To identify and document the flow of weapons and ammunition

To locate the potential illicit points of diversion to the arms trade


Weapons identification, marking, registering, and tracing is

essentially a technical activity and non-discriminatory personnel

recruitment and management. Women should be equally involved at

each step from the design to the execution of this activity.

Weapons identification can involve local communities and may

require awareness raising among local populations. The various

facets of this activity require skills transfers and training, which can

be performed by men and women.

38

ARMS FLOW S MONITORING , AND ILLICIT TRADE PREVENTION

Arms flows monitoring is tightly related to activities involving

identification, marking, registering, and tracing SALW. This set of

activities can be of strategic importance when flows of weapons feed

insurgency or terrorist situations with national security implications.

It can also be considered at tactical level to identify criminals and

criminal networks in a law and order context:

Identifying flow of illegal weapons and ammunition

Tracking criminal and trafficking networks or individuals,

including possible sponsors of violence

It must therefore be integrated in to a wider strategy to address

weapons proliferation and illicit activities.

Trafficking in SALW may also be related to other types of trafficking

(e.g., drugs and human beings), although in most cases the network

patterns and actors are different. It has been observed that such

traffickers are also used as SALW smuggling couriers.

When addressing gang-type violence, it must be noted that while it

predominantly involves men, both as perpetrators and victims,

women may also be affected by or be involved in gang activities in

numerous roles. Women and girls might have logistical or leadership

roles, for example, by organizing, planning, and even being engaged

in armed violence, but they are certainly also victims.


Objectives aimed by arms flows monitoring and preventive measures

are:

To identify illegal trade networks

To identify and document the flow of weapons and ammunition,

and locate potential and effective points of diversion in the arms

trade; and

To disrupt illegal weapons trade networks and proliferation

39

ACTIVITY-SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR GENDER MAINSTREAMING

There are a number of gender-based considerations in addressing

the illicit trade in SALW, which needs to be addressed holistically by

taking both demand and supply aspects into consideration.

Reducing the demand for weapons through women or men may

require the establishment or organization of local structures and

training for advocacy and awareness work, especially to address

violence that involves or targets children

DESIGN AND GUIDANCE

The monitoring of the illicit flows of weapons and ammunition must

be part of a comprehensive approach to address illicit trade and

proliferation. In order to be effective, it requires a “whole-of-

government” approach and carefully coordinated activities.

Institutions related to defense should work together with customs

and domestic law enforcement entities, in order to maintain a

common operational picture. Contacts and information sharing with

neighboring countries are decisive success factors.

The same weapons and ammunition may be connected to other type

of trafficking such as trafficking of drugs and human beings.

Therefore, monitoring the flow of weapons may serve a variety of

objectives, ranging from national security to law enforcement.

CHECKLIST

A holistic strategy to address the demand for SALW, may comprise

the following activities:

Conduct surveys with survivors, victims, perpetrators, and

affected communities in order to obtain the necessary information

to understand the very nature and purpose of the demand for

SALW, as well as the impact of their misuse

Work to understand the relationship between arms trafficking and

other illegal activities and networks in order to have a coherent

approach to the problem

40

Identify activities together with local population in order to

establish alternative income generating activities that would

prevent arms smuggling

In case of situations where arms trafficking is related to human

trafficking, use the testimonies of victims and qualitative data to

formulate anti-trafficking policies, strategies, and action plans

Consider the possibility of border management staff abusing their

position and the gender considerations to counter such abuse,

such as demanding financial bribes or sex for passage.

SECURITY SECTOR REFORM (SSR)

Security Sector Reform (SSR) is an approach to reconstruct

the security sector of a state. It aims to strengthen the

management of government ministries, parliament and civil

society organizations over the security sector, and strives to

build human and material capacity within security institutions.

It encompasses all state institutions and other entities with a

role in ensuring the security of the state and its people, such

as the armed forces, intelligence and security services, coast

guard, customs authorities, ministries of defense, ministries of

foreign affairs, and more.

SSR presents a prime opportunity to ensure policies and

regulations do not exclude but instead try to promote and

support the full participation of women in all types of roles,

especially in governance of the security sector, and ensure

the strengthening of the rule of law and amplify the voices of

women CSOs.


The objectives of SSR are as follows, but not limited to;

Strengthening the civilian and democratic control over the

security sector

Increasing the professionalism of the security forces via

training, including training on human rights and gender

concerns, and creating professional codes of conduct

41

Reducing the availability and misuse of illicit SALW and

reintegrating former combatants into the society

Strengthening national security measures and the rule of law,

such as the penal system and building capacity in the judiciary


Gender mainstreaming within SSR policies and projects need to be

considered at every stage of the planning process, from policy-level,

to planning, assessment and monitoring. SSR policies and projects

can have different impacts on women, men, boys and girls. Gender

mainstreaming within SSR policies and projects acknowledges these

differing experiences between men and women, and in return,

enables practitioners to tailor projects and policies to fit all

stakeholders, thus benefiting women, men, boys and girls.

CHECKLIST

The following considerations should complement SSR policies and

projects;

Employ a gender expert as part of the personnel working on

SSR policies and/or projects

Encourage cooperation with civil society or women’s

organizations to improve responses to trafficked girls and

women identified at borders

Integrate gender considerations into the training for security

sector personnel, such as within the armed forces, ministries

of defense, ministries of foreign affairs

Review the terms of reference for SSR policies and projects

to ensure that they use gender neutral language

Encourage equal and meaningful participation of both men

and women within the security sector, and provide equal

opportunities of training for both men and women

42

4 CONCLUDING REMARKS

NATO’s efforts in SALW control result from the aspiration to assist in

eradicating the illicit trade of SALW and recovering from the

devastating effects of the illicit use and misuse of SALW. In providing

the necessary assistance and support to affected populations in

conflict or post-conflict areas, emphasis should be placed on the

need for a gender-sensitive approach. These gender mainstreaming

guidelines are designed to ensure that the differing contributions,

concerns, and needs of all age and gender groups are acknowledged

and addressed accordingly.

With a view to implementing NATO/EAPC Policy on Women, Peace

and Security, NATO’s Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines for SALW

will be used in NATO projects. The practical application of the

guidelines will be done through NATO SALW projects and programs

assessment procedures with implementing actors.

NATO would be pleased to receive any comments, suggestions,

recommendations or questions you may have with regard to these

guidelines.

Please contact us at:

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Political Affairs and Security Policy Division (PASP)

Arms Control, Disarmament and Weapons of Mass Destruction

Non-Proliferation Centre (ACDC)

B-1110 Brussels – Belgium

T: 0032 2 707 4689

E-mail: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

43

GLOSSARY

Ammunition include “the complete round or its components,

including cartridge cases, primers, propellant powder, bullets or

projectiles, that are used in small arms or light weapons.” (UN CASA,

ISACS 01.20:2016(E)V1.3)

Civil society is a community of citizens linked by common interest

and/or collective activity. It includes a wide array of groups including,

but not limited to, non-governmental, faith based, women’s social

organisations and charities. (Women, Peace and Security in NATO,

Concepts and Definitions, Office of NATO Secretary General’s

Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, p. 4)

Conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence (CR-SGBV)

when used or commissioned as a tactic of war in order to deliberately

target civilians or as a part of a widespread or systematic attack

against civilian populations, can significantly exacerbate situations of

armed conflict and may impede the restoration of international peace

and security. Under international law there are eight different forms

of conflict-related sexual violence; rape; sexual slavery; prostitution;

forced pregnancy; forced abortion; enforced sterilization; forced

marriage; any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity.

(Women, Peace and Security in NATO, Concepts and Definitions,

Office of NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for

Women, Peace and Security, p. 5)

Destruction is defined as “rendering permanently inoperable small

arms, light weapons, their parts, components or ammunition.”

(UNCASA, ISACS 01.20:2016(E)V1.3)

Gender refers to the social attributes associated with being a female

or male, which is learned through socialization and how

society/culture interprets what is permissible for women and what is

permissible for men. Gender determines what is expected, permitted

and valued in a woman or in a man in a given context. In most

societies there are differences and inequalities between women and

men in many areas. Gender does not mean women. (Women, Peace

and Security in NATO, Concepts and Definitions, Office of NATO

44

Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and

Security, p. 9)

Gender analysis is the systematic gathering and examination of

information on gender differences and on social relations between

men and women in order to identify and understand inequities based

on gender. Gender analysis involves a critical examination of how

differences in gender roles, activities, opportunities and rights affect

women and men. It examines the relationships between women and

men and their access to and control of resources and the constraints

they face relative to each other. A gender analysis should be

integrated into all assessments or situational analyses to ensure that

gender-based injustices and inequalities are not perpetuated and/or

exacerbated. Gender analysis is the starting point for gender

mainstreaming. Before cooperation processes begin, any decisions

are made and plans are outlined, the gender equality situation in a

given context must be analysed and expected results identified.

(Women, Peace and Security in NATO, Concepts and Definitions,

Office of NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for

Women, Peace and Security, p. 11)

Gender balance: “NATO-led operations can be more effective with

enhanced women's participation at all levels. The experiences and

skills of both men and women are essential to the success of NATO

operations. Today's conflicts often require a Comprehensive

Approach in terms of more tactful public relations, better and more

extensive situational awareness, information operations, information

gathering and intelligence production. Women in NATO-led forces

can be an asset and an enabler, especially in activities of

engagement with the local population. NATO-led operations will

deploy the capacity and capability to engage with the entire

population, men and women, girls and boys. It is optimal to have both

a gender balanced force, and gender balanced teams. Gender

engagement activities include, but are not limited to: CIMIC,

HUMINT, information operations, psychological operations,

investigations, medical services and public affairs.” (NATO, BI-SC

Directive 40-1, 2012, Chapter 3.3)

45

Gender equality refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and

opportunities of women and men. Equality does not mean that

women and men will become the same but that women’s and men’s

rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether

they are born female or male. Gender equality recognizes the

diversity perceptions between women and men, but allows for both

women and men to advance equally across all spheres – social,

political, economic, and cultural. Notably, gender equality is not

solely a ‘woman’s issue’ but is a concern for both men and women.

For NATO, gender equality is at the core of the Alliance work. It

provides the basis for the NATO/EAPC Policy and Action Plan on

Women, Peace and Security. (Women, Peace and Security in NATO,



Gender mainstreaming is a strategy used to achieve gender

equality by assessing the implications for women and men of any

planned action, in all areas and at all levels, in order to assure that

the concerns and experiences of both sexes are taken into account.

Gender mainstreaming is a process undertaken to achieve greater

gender equality. It is not a goal or objective on its own. It is a strategy

for implementing greater equality by assessing the implications for

men and women of any planned action in order to ensure that the

concerns and experiences of both men and women are taken into

account. The term ‘gender mainstreaming’ is often used

interchangeably with the germ ‘gender integration’. Mainstreaming a

gender perspective is simply promoting the different perspectives of

women and men in every legislation, policy or program, in all areas

and at all levels. Commitment to the use of gender inclusive

language when drafting these various legislation/policy documents is

also an essential part of mainstreaming. Mainstreaming is therefore

a way to make women’s as well as men’s concerns and experiences

an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and

evaluation of policies and programs in all political, economic and

societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally and that

inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal of gender

mainstreaming is to achieve gender equality. (Women, Peace and

Security in NATO, Concepts and Definitions, Office of NATO

46


Security, p. 18)

A ‘gender perspective’ ’is a strategy to understand the power

relationships between men/boys and women/girls. A gender

perspective sheds light on who has access to and control of

resources, and who participates fully in decision-making in a society’.

In NATO, the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP)

refers to gender perspectives as ‘the consideration of gender-based

differences between women and men as reflected in their social roles

and interactions, in the distribution of power and in the access to

resources. NATO has directly linked the role of gender perspective

and women’s equality to more effective and sustainable peace and

security efforts. (Women, Peace and Security in NATO, Concepts

and Definitions, Office of NATO Secretary General’s Special

Representative for Women, Peace and Security, p. 18)

Gender-responsive DDR programs are programs that “are

planned, implemented, monitored and evaluated in a gender-

responsive manner to meet the different needs of female and male

ex-combatants, supporters and dependents.” (UNDDR, Integrated

DDR Standards, Level 5.10., p. 25)

Gender-sensitive programming and policies are programmes and

policies that are aware of and address gender differences. (UNICEF,

Glossary of Terms and Concepts, November 2017, p. 5)

Integration of gender perspective is the second of the three

principles of NATO/EAPC Policy on WPS, integration, as regards

gender in NATO, is the mainstreaming of a gender perspective into

every stage of policy processes – design, implementation,

monitoring and evaluation. Often used interchangeably with the term

‘mainstreaming’, integration is the process of guaranteeing that

every activity includes a gender perspective. (Women, Peace and

Security in NATO, Concepts and Definitions, Office of NATO


Security, p. 23)

47

Light weapons “are, broadly speaking, weapons designed for use

by two or three persons serving as a crew, although some may be

carried and used by a single person. They include, inter alia, heavy

machine guns, hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade

launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns,

recoilless rifles, portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket

systems, portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, and

mortars of a caliber of less than 100 millimeters.” (International

Tracing Instrument (ITI))

Small arms “are, broadly speaking, weapons designed for individual

use. They include, inter alia, revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles

and carbines, sub-machine guns, assault rifles and light machine

guns” (International Tracing Instrument (ITI))

Sex refers to the biological characteristics of women and men. These

characteristics are usually permanent and immutable biological

characteristics common to individuals in all societies and cultures.

Gender refers to the social attributes associated with being male and

female, which are learned through socialization and determine a

person’s position and value in any given context. Gender, although

it originates in objective biological divergences, goes far beyond the

physiological and biological specifics of the two sexes in terms of the

roles each is expected to play. Gender differences are social

constructs, inculcated on the basis of a specific society’s particular

perceptions of the physical differences and the assumed tastes,

tendencies and capabilities of men and women. Gender differences,

unlike the immutable characteristics of sex, are universally conceded

in historical and comparative social analyses to be variants that are

transformed over time and from one culture to the next, as societies

change and evolve. (Women, Peace and Security in NATO,



Sex-disaggregated data is data that is cross-classified by sex,

presenting information separately for men and women, boys and

girls. Sex-disaggregated data reflects roles, real situations, general

conditions of women and men, girls and boys in every aspect of a

given society. (Women, Peace and Security in NATO, Concepts and

48

Definitions, Office of NATO Secretary General’s Special

Representative for Women, Peace and Security, p. 28)

Stockpile is “a large accumulated stock of small arms and/or light

weapons, including their parts, components and ammunition”

(UNCASA, ISACS 01.20:2016(E)V1.3)

Stockpile management refers to “procedures and activities

designed to ensure the safe and secure accounting, storage,

transportation and handling of small arms and/or light weapons,

including their parts, components and ammunition.” (UNCASA,

ISACS 01.20:2016(E)V1.3)

Surplus are “functioning small arms and light weapons in a State

stockpile that are no longer required by the armed services of the

State in order to ensure internal and external security” (UNCASA,

ISACS 01.20:2016(E)V1.3)

Tracing is “the systematic tracking of illicit small arms and light

weapons or ammunition from the point of their manufacture or import

through the lines of supply to the point at which they became illicit.”

(UNCASA, ISACS 01.20:2016(E)V1.3)

Violence against women is defined by the UN General Assembly

in the 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against

Women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is

likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering

to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary

deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private.

Violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not

be limited to, the following:

(a) Physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring in the

family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the

household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital

mutilation, and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-

spousal violence, and violence related to exploitation;

(b) Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the

general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual

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harassment, and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and

elsewhere, trafficking in women, and forced prostitution; and

(c) Physical, sexual, and psychological violence perpetrated or

condoned by the State, wherever it occurs.” (UNGA, A/RES/48/104,

Art. 1)

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ADDITIONAL READING MATERIAL

1. Bonn International Center for Conversion, Gender Perspectives

on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Regional and International

Concerns, Knowledge Notes 24, June 2002

2. Corey Barr & Sarah Masters, Why Women? Effective

Engagement for Small Arms Control, International Action

Network on Small Arms, October 2011

3. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe,

Combating Violence against Women in the OSCE Region, 6

December 2016

4. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe,

Handbook of Best Practices on Small Arms and Light Weapons,

1 December 2003

5. Small Arms Survey, Converging Agendas: Women, Peace,

Security, and Small Arms. In: Small Arms Survey Yearbook

2014, June 2014, pp. 34-63

6. Small Arms Survey, Women and Gun Ownership. Research

Note Armed Actors No. 45, September 2014

7. Sarah Douglas, Vanessa Farr, Felicity Hill, Wenny Kasuma,

Getting it Right, Doing it Right: Gender and Disarmament,

Demobilization and Reintegration, United Nations Entity for

Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women),

2010

8. South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control

of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), Gender Aspects

of SALW and How to Address Them in Practice, 2018


of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), Gender and

SALW in South East Europe, 2016


of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), A Practical Tool

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for Integrating the Gender Perspective in SALW Legislative and

Policy Frameworks, 2016

11. South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the

Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), Review

of Key Literature on Children, Youth and Small Arms, 30

September 2006

12. South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the

Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), Gender

and SALW in South East Europe, Main Concerns and Policy

Response, 2016

13. UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, Gender Perspectives

on Small Arms: What are the linkages between small arms

issues and gender perspectives?, Briefing Note Nr 3, 2001

14. UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, Guidelines for gender

mainstreaming for the effective implementation of the UN

programme of action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit

trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects,

A/CONF.192/2006/RC/CRP.3, 26 June-7 July 2006

15. UN Office For Disarmament Affairs - Regional Disarmament

Branch, Mainstreaming gender for the effective implementation

of the UN PoA, Update of the 2006 CASA Guidelines, 14-18 June

2010

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RESOURCE DOCUMENTS FOR DESIGNING AND ESTABLISHING SURVEYS

1. Small Arms Survey, Tools for Measuring, Monitoring and

Evaluation: In-depth Focus on Surveys, 2012

(http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/M-

files/CCRVI/CCVRI-Practice-Product-Surveys.pdf)

2. UNODC-UNECE, Manual on Victimization Surveys, 2010

(https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Crime-

statistics/Manual_on_Victimization_surveys_2009_web.pdf)

3. World Health Organization, WHO Ethical and safety

recommendations for researching, documenting and monitoring

sexual violence in emergencies, 2007

(http://www.who.int/gender/documents/OMS_Ethics&Safety10A

ug07.pdf)

4. Oxford Policy Management, Using Household Surveys for

Gender Analysis in Developing Countries, 2010

(http://www.opml.co.uk/sites/default/files/bn201008.pdf)

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